The Lone Ranger

The Gore Verbinski flick was beaten up in the press for its high cost and supposed poor quality before it was even released. The movie is not as bad as it was made out to be and its low box office seems to be a result of bad buzz, not a terrible movie. It is fairly long at two and a half hours. It is also a Western, not really the typical summer blockbuster genre but they did it well. Let's not forget that Verbinski wrote and directed Rango and directed The Mexican. And he is of course the man behind the first three Pirates movies, regardless of your opinion of the franchise.

I venture to guess that my dad would like the movie; Western fans and people that watched the tv show as kids must love it. The best parts are when they play the classic Lone Ranger theme music over the action. The Lone Ranger is nominated for two Oscars in the technical categories for Makeup and Hairstyling and for Visual Effects. Dallas Buyer's Club is anticipated to win for Makeup and Gravity for Visual Effects. If you like Westerns, or Johnny Depp, or Armie Hammer, you will probably enjoy this movie. I imagine Disney would have liked Lone Ranger to become a franchise like Pirates but that seems unlikely due to its box office. Depp and Hammer are very well cast. Depp makes the role of Tonto his own and Hammer embodies the Lone Ranger. I had completely forgotten that Hammer was ever a Winklevoss.

And because I thought of the quote every time the nephew was on screen, from A Christmas Story:

Mr. Parker: "What is the name of the Lone Ranger's nephew's horse?"
Mother: "Ah... Victor! His name is Victor."
Mr. Parker: "How the hell did you know that?"
Mother: "Everybody knows that! "

Available for home viewing...
Iron Man 3
The third chapter of the Iron Man franchise maintained the quality and attitude of the first two movies. I was concerned when Jon Favreau announced that he would not be directing. I was happily surprised to see that he did return for his role as Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's driver/head of security. I couldn't help but wonder if the summer blockbuster was originally slated for a holiday release as it is Christmas time in the movie. The Marvel universe continues to dominate the pop culture lineup. The third Iron Man movie was the seventh film in the franchise. There is a television show now, Marvel's Agents of Shield, Captain America 2 comes out April 4th and the second Avengers film is set to debut Summer 2015. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy trailer just came out. Iron Man 3 has one Oscar nomination for Visual Effects. As mentioned before, Gravity is the likely winner, and rightly so.  The effects in Gravity are based on new technologies developed specifically for the film.

Dark Shadows

As the credits ended and the overhead lights came back on, a Regal employee asked Laura and I if we liked the movie. In a word, yes. He then added that Johnny Depp fans like it. To which I replied, "yeah, we fit that category."

This film is a classic Tim Burton vision, a Beetlejuice flourish here, a Corpse Bride-esque darkened eye and pale complexion there, and of course, Helena Bonham Carter (she is great with an American accent, as is Depp with an English one). The Burton-Depp collaboration is one any fan of theirs would enjoy. Johnny Depp is also a producer on the movie. It is the producers that have the power, the say and that win the Oscars.

The score by Danny Elfman was fantastic as are all of his Burton film scores. The songs selected for the soundtrack were equally terrific hits from the late 60s and early 70s; The Moody Blues' Knights in White Satin kicks things off over the opening credits. With the Carpenters, Donovan and Alice Cooper also making appearances. Steve Miller Band's The Joker also makes it into dialogue. To sum up as Barnabas did, "I really enjoy the music of this era. 'I'm a picker, I'm a grinner. I'm a lover and I am a sinner. I play my music in the sun.'" sizzle. The end credits feature a Killers cover of the Raspberries' Go All the Way.

I am not familiar with the 1966-1971 soap opera for which the film is based upon but I have heard boomers reflect on it fondly. The cast of characters are the same in name and there seem to be acknowledged nods to the original throughout the movie.

The movie has many laughs and is very fun. This is certainly a fantasy so be ready to suspend your disbelief. The extensive main cast that includes, Michelle Pheiffer, Eva Green, Jonny Lee Miller and Chloë Grace Moretz, is strong. Get your Depp on.

The Hunger Games, the Lucky One and the Five Year Engagement

I have not blogged in awhile. Life has been busy to say the least. That's part of it. I think the main reason for my delay is that the last three movies I saw in theaters were not that wonderful. Seeing the films with Dana and Kari, and watching Rum Diary with Laura was great though.

The Hunger Games
The widely anticipated adaptation of the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy was very well done. It was a great movie and was also a memorable movie going experience. I saw the film with Dana. Midway through the movie, right at a very serious and poignant scene in the story, a man walked out and yelled, this movie is messed-up, why are you here? Well, sir, maybe you should inform yourself before you go to the theater. Just because something is popular and not what you thought it would be, refrain from attempting to ruin others' time at the multiplex. Despite this interruption, I did enjoy the movie and I have only positive things to say about it. The experience of reading the book was just so powerful that even the best interpretation by a movie pales in comparison.

The Lucky One
Another book adaptation. This marks a first for me -- I read my first Nicholas Sparks novel before seeing the movie. There is a certain amount of cheese that comes with a film based on a Sparks book. There was just too much in this one. It was more A Walk to Remember and very much less than the Notebook. The acting is poor and too much of the story had been changed from the book. Taylor Schilling is a very bad actress, beautiful and very well cast in the role of Beth, but not a good actress. Blythe Danner was a highlight, as was Zac Efron's bod.

The Five Year Engagement

I was very eager see to this flick. I am a big fan of both Jason Segel and Emily Blunt. There were many hilarious moments and the extensive supporting cast including Parks and Rec's Chris Pratt and Mad Men's Alison Brie was excellent. One plot complication just ruined things for me. If you see it and you know me, you will know what I am talking about. If you enjoyed it despite some events, I am genuinely happy that you did because I could not get past it.

And on DVD...
Rum Diary
Laura and I were planning to watch the new Muppets movie but after three Red Boxes I was done searching. I know you can reserve online and there is an app for that but it all worked out. Fresh on my mind from our top five movies as friends, I saw a picture for Rum Diary as I headed back to my car, nearly defeated. The movie is based on a Hunter S Thompson's novel and is a must see for any Johnny Depp fan. The wacky exploits of an American journalist in Puerto Rico during the 1950s unfolds hilariously. There was line after line of laugh-out-loud dialogue. A very fun flick for those who would like the Hangover crossed with the Mexican, taking place in the 50s. I am also very excited to see Dark Shadows this week with Laura. I am optimistic that the film will end my slump.